Our Top Tips You Need to Read Before Having Your Home Painted

 

So, the walls in your home look dull and unattractive, and you’re thinking of giving them a fresh, vibrant makeover. Great thinking! Painting your home can breathe new life into your living spaces. But before you get your paintbrush and splash color on the walls, there are some things you need to know. Whether you go the DIY route or seek professional painting solutions, the tips below will significantly impact the outcome of your paint job.

Proper Timing

You don’t just wake up one day and decide to add a coat of paint to your house. What if the rains wash the paint away or the paint doesn’t dry in time? Proper timing is essential, especially if you plan to paint your home’s exterior. But when is the best time to paint your home?

There’s no best time for everyone to complete a painting project. It all depends on factors like location, weather conditions, and specific circumstances. Generally, there’s no big problem with painting the inside of your house—you can do it at any time and under any season because it’s a controlled environment.

However, the challenge comes when you need to paint your home’s exterior. You must adjust your project around the weather conditions for the best results. A new paint project requires dry weather.

Summer is the optimal painting season for house exteriors in most areas. The season offers minimal fluctuations in temperature, allowing your paint to dry properly. Spring and fall are also considered the best seasons for painting your home as they provide moderate temperatures and lower humidity, allowing the paint to dry and cure properly.

Moisture can impact the paint’s adhesion and drying process. So avoid having your home painted during rainy or excessively humid days. Instead, aim for a dry period with minimal wind and mild temperatures for optimal temperatures. If you’re unsure when to paint your home, seek professional painting solutions.

Prepare For the Paint Job

As you wait for the best day and weather to start your painting project, you must prepare adequately. The preparation stage is one of the most essential yet overlooked stages in the painting process. The outcome of your paint job and the durability of the paint greatly depend on the preparation stage. So before you begin your painting project, properly prepare to ensure flawless results.

Clear the Areas

If you plan to paint your interior walls, you must clear the areas, typically removing furniture and other objects that might hinder your progress. If you don’t have a place to keep all your furniture and items, you might want to paint one room at a time, moving items in between rooms.

For instance, start with the sitting room, and move everything to the other rooms. Once your sitting room walls dry, go to the bedrooms and move everything to the sitting room. Alternatively, consider renting home storage units to store your furniture and items during the painting project. A real estate agent can help you find and rent these units.

You can also construct your own custom storage unit if you have enough space and budget. Custom builders can help you create a temporary or permanent structure to store your items safely. Ensure you get the right home builder for the project.

Protect Other Surfaces

You want to cover and protect your floors and other surfaces to prevent accidental spills and stains. You can use drop cloths or tarps to cover other surfaces. This prevents the paint from staining other areas in your home.

Conduct Any Other Remodel

If you’re thinking of changing your home’s structure, perhaps extending your house, or replacing the roof, this is the time to complete the home remodeling project. So you want to call home remodeling contractors to do the work before you start your painting project.

Clean the Surfaces

Clean the interior and exterior walls to remove any dirt, dust, or grease that may hinder the paint from adhering to the surface. You also need to repair any damages, such as holes and cracks, to ensure a smooth and even surface.

But instead of going through all these tedious tasks alone, just seek professional painting solutions. The interior or exterior painting company will take over the project from preparation to applying the last coat.

Choose the Right Paint

Congratulations! Your surfaces are now ready to receive new paint. But have you identified the right paint? If not, now is the right time to choose paint for your painting project. Generally, you’ll need more than one paint for the project. Your choice will depend on your preferences and the room’s functionality, among other factors.

First, you want to consider the surface you’ll be painting. There’s a specific paint for every surface, like walls, exterior siding, and ceiling. For instance, you’ll need an eggshell or satin finish for interior walls. On the other hand, doors need semi-gloss or high-gloss paint for added durability.

Second, determine the room’s functionality and choose a paint that complements it. Kitchens, hallways, and other high-traffic areas may require paint that’s easy to clean and resistant to stains. Areas prone to moisture, such as laundry rooms and bathrooms, will need paint with mildew-resistant properties.

Additionally, you need to select paint finishes for your project. Your choice will impact your home’s interior and exterior appearance. Popular finishes include eggshell, matte, semi-gloss, and high-gloss. Consider the characteristics of each finish, including non-reflective, highly reflective, and shiny appearance. You want a paint finish that aligns with your aesthetic preferences and complements the space style.

Above all, prioritize the paint quality. Consider reputable brands known for their color retention and durability. This will ensure a smoother application, better coverage, and longer-lasting results. But remember, quality paints come at a slightly increased cost but will save you time and money in the long run.

Get the Necessary Tools and Materials (for DIY projects)

You can paint your home yourself and, indeed, save a few dollars. However, you must have the proper knowledge, skills, and tools required for the job. If not, it’s best to seek professional painting solutions. So here’s what you’ll need to paint your home;

• Paint brushes and rollers: You need multiple paint brushes in various sizes for cutting in edges, corners, and detailed work. You also need a sturdy roller frame with an adjustable handle and roller covers for smooth or textured surfaces
• Paint trays and mixing sticks: You need mixing sticks to stir the paint thoroughly before application and paint trays for holding pain during the painting process
• Putty knife and spackle: The putty knife is for scraping off loose paint and applying spackle, and the spackle is for filling in holes, cracks, and imperfections in the walls.
• Sandpaper or sanding block: Have them in various grits for smoothing surfaces and removing rough spots
• Painter’s tape: Used to mask off edges, trim, and areas you want to keep paint-free
• Drop cloths or tarps: Used to protect furniture, floors, and other surfaces from paint splatters and spills
• An extension pole: You can attach it to the roller frame to help you reach high walls or ceilings without a ladder
• Ladder or step stool: For reaching higher areas safely
• Primer: To ensure proper adhesion and coverage
• A respirator or dust mask: To protect you against paint fumes and dust particles.
• Protective clothing: Include coveralls and disposable or reusable gloves to protect your skin and prevent paint stains

These are just the essential tools and materials required for a house painting project. There could be more depending on the size of the project, the surface being painted, and personal preferences. If you lack these essential tools and equipment, forget about the DIY route and seek professional painting solutions.

Follow Proper Painting Techniques

Painting your home might seem a straightforward task. After all, it’s just dipping the brush in the paint and applying it on the walls. But there’s more to painting than what you see. It’s not as simple as it looks. That’s why we have professional painting solutions. If you don’t understand what needs to be done, it’s best to hire a professional painting company.

When painting your home’s interior and exterior walls, follow proper painting techniques to achieve a good finish and ensure long-lasting results. You must follow all the strategies, step by step, to ensure stunning results.

For instance, you must properly load the brush or roller. You should dip the roller or brush into the paint, covering about one-third of the nap or bristle length. Also, gently tap off excess paint to prevent drips and excessive buildup.

Additionally, you need to know how to apply the paint. Experts recommend applying the paint with even strokes. Also, you should maintain consistent pressure to achieve a uniform finish. Do not press too hard or overwork the paint to prevent streaks or uneven textures.

Also, when applying different coats, you must allow enough time for each coat to dry before adding the next. Most paints have manufacturer instructions for drying time between coats. Ensure you give enough time for each coat to dry thoroughly before adding other layers. Also, do not touch or place objects on freshly painted surfaces to prevent damage or smudging. Again, if you’re new to painting or don’t understand the proper painting techniques, seek professional painting solutions from a reputable painting company.

Cleaning Up After Painting

Once you’re done with painting, you need to clean up the place. You can do this in various ways. First, if you still have some paint unused, seal the paint tightly to prevent drying or spills. Then, store the cans in a cool, dry place away from extreme temperatures. You can use the paint on other projects like self storage painting.

Additionally, you need to clean all the paint brushes and rollers, especially if you plan to reuse them, which is always the case. You don’t want the paint to dry on the nap or bristles. If you’re using water-based paints, rinse the brushes and rollers thoroughly with water. For oil-based paints, use an appropriate solvent like paint thinner or mineral spirits to clean the brushes and rollers.

Also, you need to dispose of paint-related waste, including used paint trays, cans, and paint-soaked rags. Check with local regulations for proper disposal of these items. This is also essential for the environment.

Carefully remove plastic sheets, drop cloths, or any other protective materials used during the painting process. If you use painter’s tape, carefully remove it from the trim, walls, or other surfaces before the paint dries completely. Ensure you dispose of the tape properly. Once everything is cleared, you can reposition your furniture and bring your room to its original state.

When moving your furniture and other items, ensure you don’t scratch the paint on the walls. You don’t have to worry about cleaning your spaces after the painting project if you’re using professional painting solutions. The company will do it for you.

Maintaining the Painted Surfaces

You want the results of your paint job to stay for a more extended period. Therefore, it’s up to you to take adequate measures to ensure the results stand the test of time. First, you should have used quality paint to prevent premature fading and peeling. Cheaper paint will save you money in the short term, but quality paint will save you money in the long run.

Your home’s exterior is exposed to various elements, such as direct sunlight, moisture, and wind, which could reduce the lifespan of your paint. Therefore, you must know how to care for your exterior walls.

Always keep your walls clean and free from dirt, grime, and stains. A build-up of these particles will affect your paint job. Avoid scrub brushes or abrasive cleaners that may damage the paint on your walls. Also, get rid of spills and stains as fast as possible.

Additionally, conduct regular inspections and address any imperfections promptly. You can touch up affected areas with a small touch-up paint. However, ensure the touch-up blends well into the surrounding area. You can also add a protective sealant to your exterior walls after every few years to maintain their appearance and protect against the elements.

You also need to maintain the surrounding landscape, as it can affect the condition of the paint. For instance, trim foliage and branches away from the exterior walls to prevent paint scratching or scraping. Also, clean downspouts and gutters to avoid water overflow that could damage the paint.

Are you ready to take on your paint job? Whether doing it all by yourself or using professional painting solutions, the tips above will make the whole process easy and successful. If you have metal surfaces you want to be painted, opt for an interior electrostatic painting service. And if you’re remodeling your home, ensure the remodel doesn’t affect your home insurance.